Latest news with #ex-Welsh
Daily Mirror
28-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Nigel Farage to unveil mystery 'special guest' in major Reform press conference TODAY
Nigel Farage will today host a Reform UK press conference - with a mystery special guest. The party leader will address the nation, and journalists, in central London from 11am. Previous such events have seen the MP for Clacton announce defections to his party. Sir Jake Berry, a former leading Conservative, was among the latest to switch sides, following ex-Welsh secretary David Jones who earlier this month announced he enrolled as a member. While a defection could be on the cards, Mr Farage has also been joined by well-known faces during press conferences. During the election campaign, boxing champion Derek Chisora often showed up to lend his support. Attention-loving Mr Farage held a press conference just last week, where he unveiled a senior Tory who used a racist slur in a WhatsApp chat is his latest Reform recruit. At an event in Wales, a grinning Mr Farage crowed that Welsh Parliament member Laura Anne Jones had switched sides. Ms Jones has also previously apologised for saying she would "like to do a spot of Chav shooting" on Facebook - and said it is "a shame that isn't legal". 09:55Sophie Huskisson Who could be the special guest? Previous such events have seen Nigel Farage announce defections to his party. Attention-loving Mr Farage held a press conference only just last week, where he unveiled a senior Tory who used a racist slur in a WhatsApp chat is his latest Reform recruit. Sir Jake Berry, a former leading Conservative, iss among the latest Tory heavyweights to switch sides, following ex-Welsh secretary David Jones who earlier this month announced he enrolled as a member. While a defection could be on the cards, Mr Farage has also been joined by well-known faces during press conferences. During the election campaign, boxing champion Derek Chisora often showed up to lend his support.
The National
21-07-2025
- Business
- The National
Rachel Reeves set to reject introducing wealth tax
The Chancellor has come under renewed pressure to levy a new tax on the savings, investments and property of the wealthy and in recent weeks senior Labour figures have refused to rule out the prospect. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander refused to be drawn on the issue earlier this month by the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg, while Keir Starmer also declined to rule out the measure at PMQs after Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accused him of "flirting" with the idea. But Cabinet ministers have reportedly told The Times that a wealth tax is a 'non-starter', alleging wealthy people would simply leave the UK because of it. 'Wealth taxes don't work,' one cabinet minister said. 'Just look at what's happened in other countries that have introduced them. They just don't raise money, certainly not the kind of money that we're looking for.' READ MORE: Labour launch review into raising retirement age Another cabinet minister said a wealth tax was 'off the table'. They said: 'Wealthy people are mobile, they can move their assets to other more favourable jurisdictions.' Another government source did say though that Reeves is reluctant to rule out a wealth tax publicly. They said that other options, such as increasing capital gains tax, remain under consideration. Reeves is preparing to raise taxes in the Autumn Budget after the Government was forced by Labour MPs to abandon welfare cuts and partially reinstate the Winter Fuel Payment. The U-turn on both policies is expected to cost more than £6 billion. The Office for Budget Responsibility, the official forecaster, is also expected to downgrade Britain's growth prospects. Earlier this month ex-Labour leader Neil Kinnock suggested Reeves should bring in a wealth tax, alongside ex-Welsh Labour leader Mark Drakeford. Kinnock claimed it could bring in as much as £11bn for the Treasury. READ MORE: Zarah Sultana calls out 'racist' cartoon in Observer Eight nations have introduced wealth taxes but have subsequently scrapped them including Austria, Denmark, Germany, Finland, Iceland, Luxembourg, Sweden and France. However, four countries have retained wealth taxes in Norway, Spain, Switzerland and Colombia. The Chancellor has little wriggle room in the Autumn Budget because of Labour's manifesto pledge not to increase taxes on 'working people', encompassing income tax, VAT and National Insurance. Reeves was accused of breaching the pledge last year when she increased employers' National Insurance contributions to raise £24 billion.
The National
10-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
Ex-Tory chairman Jake Berry announces defection to Reform UK
Sir Jake Berry, former Conservative chairman under Liz Truss, is the latest to jump ship to Reform in the latest blow to the Tories, making him the second ex-Cabinet minister to do so within a week. Writing in an op-ed in The Sun, Berry claimed the 'only way' to have a 'country we can be proud of again' is through a Reform government. He wrote: 'If you were deliberately trying to wreck the country, you'd be hard-pressed to do a better job than the last two decades of Labour and Tory rule. READ MORE: Ross Greer confirms Greens leadership bid after fiery Trump debate on BBC radio 'Some people are giving up. Not me. I'm staying. And I'm fighting. 'Fighting for the Britain I want my kids, and one day, my grandkids, to grow up in. 'Not a Britain in decline, but a Britain that believes in itself again. 'Old Westminster politics has failed. But there's a better way. Millions of people, just like me, want a country they can be proud of again. 'The only way we get that is with Reform in government. 'That's why I've resigned from the Conservative Party. I'm now backing Reform UK and working to make them the next party of government. 'Why? Because I've always believed that change comes with challenging the old order. In shaking up the system when it isn't working.' Berry is the second former Cabinet minister in a week to join Reform after ex-Welsh secretary David Jones recently announced he had enrolled as a member. Other former Conservatives who have joined Reform include Marco Longhi, Anne Marie Morris, Ross Thomson, Aiden Burley, and Andrea Jenkyns, now the mayor of Greater Lincolnshire. The former MP for Rossendale and Darwen lost his seat in the 2024 general election to Labour's Andy MacNae, who secured a majority of 6,000. READ MORE: Bob Vylan singer warns 'you'll get me in trouble' following crowd's IDF chants MacNae won with 18,246 votes, ahead of Berry on 12,619. Since losing his seat, Berry has moved into broadcasting, hosting a show on right-wing news channel Talk TV. Before serving in Liz Truss's government, he held ministerial roles under both Boris Johnson and Theresa May. In a video published alongside his op-ed, Berry claimed that "Britain is broken", saying: 'I know who broke it because I was there.' He continued: 'For 30 years I supported the Conservative Party, for 14 years I was one of their MPs, sitting at that Cabinet table twice. 'I want to tell you today my friends that I have come to a decision. The old parties do not have what it takes to transform our country, to build a Britain we can believe in again, and that's why I've decided to join the Reform Party.'
North Wales Chronicle
09-07-2025
- Politics
- North Wales Chronicle
Former leading Tory Sir Jake Berry joins Nigel Farage's Reform UK
Sir Jake, who served as Tory chairman in Liz Truss' short-lived government, said his former party had 'lost their way' as he left the Conservatives. Speaking to the Sun newspaper, the new Reform member added: 'Old Westminster politics has failed. 'Millions of people, just like me, want a country they can be proud of again. The only way we get that is with Reform in government.' Britain needs Reform! — Sir Jake Berry (@JakeBerry) July 9, 2025 Sir Jake is the second former Cabinet minister in a week to join Reform, after ex-Welsh secretary David Jones announced he enrolled as a member. Other ex-Tories who have joined Reform include Marco Longhi, Anne Marie Morris, Ross Thomson, Aiden Burley and Dame Andrea Jenkyns, now the mayor of Greater Lincolnshire. The former MP for Rossendale and Darwen lost his seat in the 2024 general election to Labour's Andy MacNae, who had a majority of 6,000 over Sir Jake. Mr MacNae won with 18,246 votes to Sir Jake's 12,619. Reform's candidate Daniel Matchett followed in a close third with 9,695 votes. Since his loss, Sir Jake has worked in broadcasting, hosting a show on Talk TV. Before serving in Ms Truss's government, he was a minister during both Boris Johnson and Theresa May's premierships, with responsibilities focused on the Northern Powerhouse and levelling up. In a video published alongside the Sun's reporting, Sir Jake spoke of his time in government. After claiming that 'Britain is broken', he added: 'I know who broke it because I was there. 'For 30 years I supported the Conservative Party, for 14 years I was one of their MPs, sitting at that Cabinet table twice. 'I want to tell you today my friends that I have come to a decision. The old parties do not have what it takes to transform our country, to build a Britain we can believe in again, and that's why I've decided to join the Reform Party.' Sir Jake, who opposed Brexit ahead of the 2016 referendum, commended his new party leader Mr Farage for having 'always stuck by his principles, even when it was unpopular'. Mr Farage 'doesn't change his views, when the political weather changes', Sir Jake said, adding: 'Because you know you can trust him, I can trust him too and that's why I'm going to spend every day campaigning to ensure that Nigel Farage and Reform form the next government of this great United Kingdom.' A Labour Party spokesperson, said: 'Not content with taking advice from Liz Truss, Nigel Farage has now tempted her Tory party chairman into his ranks. 'It's clear Farage wants Liz Truss's reckless economics, which crashed our economy and sent mortgages spiralling, to be Reform's blueprint for Britain. It's a recipe for disaster and working people would be left paying the price. 'Only our Labour Government is putting more money in people's pockets, boosting British jobs, and delivering the renewal our country needs through our Plan for Change.' A Conservative Party spokesman said: 'Reform support increasing the benefits bill by removing the two-child cap, and nationalising British industry. 'By contrast the Conservatives, under new leadership, will keep making the case for sound money, lower taxes and bringing the welfare bill under control. We wish Jake well in his new high-spend, high-tax party.'
South Wales Guardian
09-07-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Guardian
Former leading Tory Sir Jake Berry joins Nigel Farage's Reform UK
Sir Jake, who served as Tory chairman in Liz Truss' short-lived government, said his former party had 'lost their way' as he left the Conservatives. Speaking to the Sun newspaper, the new Reform member added: 'Old Westminster politics has failed. 'Millions of people, just like me, want a country they can be proud of again. The only way we get that is with Reform in government.' Britain needs Reform! — Sir Jake Berry (@JakeBerry) July 9, 2025 Sir Jake is the second former Cabinet minister in a week to join Reform, after ex-Welsh secretary David Jones announced he enrolled as a member. Other ex-Tories who have joined Reform include Marco Longhi, Anne Marie Morris, Ross Thomson, Aiden Burley and Dame Andrea Jenkyns, now the mayor of Greater Lincolnshire. The former MP for Rossendale and Darwen lost his seat in the 2024 general election to Labour's Andy MacNae, who had a majority of 6,000 over Sir Jake. Mr MacNae won with 18,246 votes to Sir Jake's 12,619. Reform's candidate Daniel Matchett followed in a close third with 9,695 votes. Since his loss, Sir Jake has worked in broadcasting, hosting a show on Talk TV. Before serving in Ms Truss's government, he was a minister during both Boris Johnson and Theresa May's premierships, with responsibilities focused on the Northern Powerhouse and levelling up. In a video published alongside the Sun's reporting, Sir Jake spoke of his time in government. After claiming that 'Britain is broken', he added: 'I know who broke it because I was there. 'For 30 years I supported the Conservative Party, for 14 years I was one of their MPs, sitting at that Cabinet table twice. 'I want to tell you today my friends that I have come to a decision. The old parties do not have what it takes to transform our country, to build a Britain we can believe in again, and that's why I've decided to join the Reform Party.' Sir Jake, who opposed Brexit ahead of the 2016 referendum, commended his new party leader Mr Farage for having 'always stuck by his principles, even when it was unpopular'. Mr Farage 'doesn't change his views, when the political weather changes', Sir Jake said, adding: 'Because you know you can trust him, I can trust him too and that's why I'm going to spend every day campaigning to ensure that Nigel Farage and Reform form the next government of this great United Kingdom.' A Labour Party spokesperson, said: 'Not content with taking advice from Liz Truss, Nigel Farage has now tempted her Tory party chairman into his ranks. 'It's clear Farage wants Liz Truss's reckless economics, which crashed our economy and sent mortgages spiralling, to be Reform's blueprint for Britain. It's a recipe for disaster and working people would be left paying the price. 'Only our Labour Government is putting more money in people's pockets, boosting British jobs, and delivering the renewal our country needs through our Plan for Change.' A Conservative Party spokesman said: 'Reform support increasing the benefits bill by removing the two-child cap, and nationalising British industry. 'By contrast the Conservatives, under new leadership, will keep making the case for sound money, lower taxes and bringing the welfare bill under control. We wish Jake well in his new high-spend, high-tax party.'
